Longtime US men’s national team and Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley announced he will retire following the end of the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign.
The 36-year-old started out in MLS with New York Red Bulls before moving on to Europe with stints at SC Heerenveen, Borussia Monchengladbach, Aston Villa, Chievo Verona and AS Roma prior to returning to North America.
With TFC, Bradley became a key player with the Canadian side upon joining in 2014. He went on to 17 goals and 41 assists in 287 league appearances for Toronto, while also picking up plenty of silverware along the way.
Bradley was vital to Toronto’s 2017 MLS Cup title, four Canadian Championships, 2017 supporters’ shield and three Eastern Conference titles. The 2017 season was a historic one for Bradley and TFC, as they became the first team in MLS history to take home a domestic trouble.
“On January 13, 2014, I sat at a press conference and said that I had never been ‘more excited, more determined, and more motivated for any challenge in my entire career.’ I meant every single word,”Bradley said in a release.
“For the last 10 years I have spilled my blood, sweat and tears trying to help this club be the best it could be. There were some incredible days – moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life – and some bad ones too. But I never stopped giving everything I had.
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and everyone inside the club. Thank you to the fans for the unforgettable nights at BMO Field. This city and this club will always be home.”
Bradley was a mainstay in the USA setup during his prime, as he featured in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups while bagging 17 goals and dishing out 23 assists in 151 appearances for the Stars and Stripes.
“We want to congratulate Michael on a historic career for both club and country. As a member of Toronto FC, Michael served as the captain and driving force of the most prolific period of success in our club’s history,” Toronto general manager Jason Hernandez said.
“For 10 years, Michael committed himself to striving for greatness with TFC and was a central figure in many of our greatest triumphs as a club. We want to take this opportunity to thank Michael for all that he has done for our club and our city. His legacy, both on and off the field, will be cemented in our club’s history forever.”
Bradley’s 19-year career comes to a close on October 21 against Orlando City, and although the Reds are eliminated from MLS Cup playoffs contention, their supporters will still have something to cheer about with the midfielder playing his last game at BMO Field.
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